Annunciator for the entrance of a dwelling or the like



DCC# 15 1964 w. G. WELLEIN 3,159,827

ANNUNCIATOR F'OR THE` ENTRANCE OF A DWELLING OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25, 1962 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gig/B F1 g"- INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1964 w. G. WELLEIN 3,159,827

ANNUNCIATOR FOR THE ENTRANCE OF' A DWELLING 0R THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 INVENTOR:

Wl |AM G. WE-LLHN mmwalM/Mmb;

ATTORNEYS i 7.. w, m w iillw., .1i .J 5 v L m 3 ,im 91| m 52 n O n 7 u 5 Mx@ t o l llL. |.L 5 7.,

United States Patent O 3,159,827 ANNUNCIATOR F012 THE ENTRANCE GF A DWELLING R THE UKE Wiiliam G. Wellein, St. .lohn Vianney Hall, Victoria Road,

. Ashevilie, PLC.

Filed lian. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,685 Claims. (Cl. 34m-330) The present invention relates to signalling devices and more particularly to signalling devices for imparting information to callers at the entrance to dwelling houses or other buildings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel signalling device adapted to be mounted at the en- `tnance to a dwelling house or other building to imp-art information to a caller, which device is simple in construction and operation, easily readable at all times when operative, and operable in response to a signal from one or more remote points within the house.

A more specific object olf the present invention is to provide a novel signalling device of the character last described having a single moving member which has the information to be imparted printed thereon, which member is quickly and easily moved between a first position in which the information is not visible and a second position in which the information is visible in response to a sional from any one of a plurality of dilterent locations in the house.

, A still more specific object lof the present invention is to provide a novel signalling device of the character last described including means responsive to the movement of the member to the second position for illuminating the information thereon and means disposed at each of the locations and likewise responsiveV to movement of said member to the second position, to remind the oc-` cupant that the device is operative to obviate any forgetfulness to thereby prevent the caller from being required to wait at the entrance for an extended period of time. Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- FIGURE l is a fragmentary elevational view showing the entrance toa building with a signalling device ernbodying the features of the present invention mounted thereon;

' FIGURE 2 is an exploded isometric view of the signalling device of the present invention;

lFIGURE 3 is a vertical section through the signalling device showing the elements thereof in unactuated or inoperative position;

FIGURE t` is -a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the elements in 'actuatedor operative position;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 5--5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectionV taken substantially along line 6 6 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is -an isometric view of a con-trol device for the elements of the signalling device; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic showingthe electrical circuit for the signalling device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE l, there is shown a building B which has an entrance E. Entrance E `has a. suitable doorbell, chime or the like which is shown herein as having a switch or button S positioned closely adjacent to the entrance, The signalling device of the present invention is generally indicated at 1b and is mounted closely adjacent to the doorbell switch S.

Signalling device' 10 (FIGURE 2) includes a housing 11 comprising cooperating front and back members 12 yposed top and bottom walls 13d, 13e.

3,159,321 Patented Dec. l, 1964 ice and 13. Front member 12 includes vertically disposed front and side walls 12a, 12b, 12e, respectively, and horizontally disposed top and bottom walls 12d, 12e. Back member 13 includes vertically disposed back and side Walls 13a, 13b, 13C, respectively, and horizontally dis- It is noted that the side walls 12b, 12e and top and bottom Walls 12d, 12e 'of .iront member 12 are of suiicient length relative tothe side walls 13b, 13C, and top and bottom walls 13d, 13e such that said side, top and bottom Walls of the back member are matingly received therein with a suiiciently tight fit such that the two housing members 12 and 13 are frictionally connected together.

Back wall 13a of housing member 13 is provided with a plurality of openings 13f which are adapted to receive suitable screws 14 therethrough to mount the housing member 13 on the door jam of building B. Front wall 12a of housing member 12 is provided with a large opening 12,]c therein which covers a substantial portion of the area of front wall 12a. A sheet 15 of any suitable transparent material is positioned Within housing member 12 in juxtaposed relation to the inside surface of wall 12o and serves to cover the opening 121C. Sheet 1S may be Y movement between first and second positions for reasons Vto be described more fully later.

Plate member 16 has suitable lindicia 17 provided on the front face thereof vin any conventional manner. lndicia 17 comprises a plurality of spaced letters combining to .forrn a legend which imparts the desired information when viewed by the caller. The letters of indicia 17 are arranged on plate member 16 in 'a predetermined pattern for reasons to be presently described.

The lower corners of plate member 16 are cut away and a pair of members 2t), 21 of 'any suitable magnetic material is mounted on plate member 16 within the cut away portions. Members 20, 21 are preferably of the same configuration as the cut away portions of plate member 16 and are mounted therein by any suitable means such as by an adhesive. It is noted that plate member 16 is preferably formed of A.a non-magnetic material such as netic material and, in such a case, members 2li, 21 may be omitted. Plate member 16 has a cam portion 22 pnojecting upwardly from the top edge thereof which is movable with plate member 16 in its horizontal movement `for reasons to be presently described.

A second vertically disposed plate member 23 is mounted in back housing member 1? in juxtaposed relation to rst' plate member 16 and on the same side thereof on which indicia 17 is placed. Second plate member 23 has a plurality of openings 24 formed therein. Openings 24 are of slightly greater size than the letters of indicia 17 and are of the same number as these letters and are arranged in plate member 23 in the same pattern as the letters are arranged on plate member 16. It is noted that the letters of indicia 17 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of openings 24 such that when plate member 16 is in the aforementioned rst position the letters of indicia 17 are outof alinement with openings 24 such that the same are not visible to a caller. Plate member 16 moves through a distance slightly greater than the width of openings Ziwhen it moves from the first position to the second position so that the letters of indicia 17 are in alinernent with openings 24 in said second position and hence visible to a caller.

Plate member 23 is preferably constructed of any suitable opaque material such as stiff cardboard, plastic or the like. The lower corners of plate member 23 are cut away as indicated at 25, 26 for reasons to be presently described.

A pair of upright, laterally opening channel members 30, 31 are mounted within back housing member 13 closely adjacent to the front thereof and in juxtaposed vrelation to plate member 23. The bottom portions of the rearward side walls of channel members 30, 31 are cut away as is indicated at 32, 33. A pair of electromagnets 34, 35 are mounted on channel members 30, 31, respectively, by brackets 36, 37. VElectromagnets 34, 35 have core portions 38, 39 extending rearwardly in the cut out portions 32, 33 in the rearward walls of the channel members 30, 31 and in the cut out portions 25, 26 in the second plate member 23 in straddling relation to the magnetic members 20, 21.

A normally open switch 4t) is mounted on the top wall 13d of the back housing member 13 and has a stationary contact 41 and a movable contact 42 carried by a pivotally mounted spring arm 43. Spring arm 43 normally biases movable contact 42 downwardly away from stationary contact 41. Cam portion 22 on plate member 16 serves to move the movable contact 42 toward and into engagement with stationary contact 41 against the action of spring arm 43 when plate member 16 is moved from the rst to the second position in a manner to be described in more detail later.

A suitable illuminating device 44 comprising a bulb 45 mounted on the top wall 13d of the housing member 13 between the channel members 30, 31 by a bracket 46 is provided for illuminating the interior of housing 11 and hence indicia 17 on plate member 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown a control device 50 which is to be placed at `one or more points within the building B spaced from the signalling device 10. A control device 50 is preferably to be placed in a plurality of different rooms throughout the building such as the foyer, den or study, bathroom and kitchen. It is to be understood, however, that a greater or lesser member of control devices may be used at' different locations throughout the building without departing from the spirit of the instant invention.

Control device 50 comprises a casing 51 which serves as an enclosure and mounting for an on switch 52 which is actuated by a push button 52a and an off switch 53 which is actuated by a push button 53a. A suitable reminding or warning light 54 is mounted on casing 51 and serves to give warning or to remind an occupant of the building when signalling device is actuated. Switches 52, 53 and light 54 are connected to signalling device 10 by an electric cord or cable 55 in a manner to be presently described. Switches 52, 53 are preferably of the snap action type which are momentarily closed and then snap to open position again.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 wherein the electrical circuit for controlling the signalling device 10 of the present invention is shown and wherein the dash line boxes represent control devices 50, the electrical circuit includes a suitable cord 60 which terminates in a male plug 61 adapted to be inserted in any suitable electrical outlet, not shown. Cord 60 is connected at its other end to a transformer 62 which may be the same as the transformer for the doorbell or the like. A power line 63 is connected at one end to one side of transformer 62 and is connected to each of the control devices 50. A line 64 is connected to power line 63 at one end and to the movable contact 42 of switch 4t) at its other end through the spring arm member 43. A line 65 is connected to the stationary contact 41 at one end and to one side of bulb 45 at its other end. A line 66 is connected at one end to the other side of bulb 45 and to one side of each of the warning or reminder lights 54. A line 67 connects the opposite side of lights 54 to a ground line 70 which in turn is connected to the opposite side of transformer 62. It is therefore noted that lights 54 are connected in lines 66 and 67 in series and in parallel such that all of the lights are actuated and deactuated simultaneously. It will therefore be seen that power line 63 and lines 64, 65, 66 and 67 and ground line form a circuit which is either completed or broken by switch 46 which is actuated in response to movement of plate member 16 between its two positions.

The electrical circuit further includes separate circuits for energizing and de-energizing the magnets 34 and 35. rl`he energizing circuit for magnet 34 includes power line 63 and the on switches 52 of control devices 50. One side of each of the switches 52 is connected to power line 63 by suitable jump lines 71 and the other side thereof is connected to a line 72 by jump lines 73. Line 72 is connected at its other end to one side of magnet 34.

Ground line 70 is connected at its end opposite from transformer 62 to the opposite side of magnet 34 from line '72 and serves to complete the circuit thereto.

The circuit for the magnet 35`includes power line 63 and the ott switches 53 of control devices 50. One side of each of the switches 53 is connected to power line 63 by jump lines 74 and the other side thereof is connected to a line 75 by jump lines 76. Line 75fis connected at its other end to one side of magnet 35 and the other side of magnet 35 is connected to ground line 70 by a line 77.

It is noted that switches 52 and 53 are connected in the energizing circuits for magnets 34 and 35, respectively, in parallel such that actuation of any one thereof will complete the circuit to the respective magnets to energize the same. It will therefore be readily apparent that signalling device 10 may be actuated or de-actuated by any 'one ofthe control devices 50.

In operation, when a caller or visitor arrives at the entrance E to building B and announces his presence by pressing switch S which actuates the doorbell, chimes or the like to inform the occupants of the building of his presence, the occupant of the building actuates any one of the on switches 52 by pressing the corresponding push button 52a which completes the circuit from the transformer 62 to magnet 34 through power line 63, jump lines 71, 73, line 72 and ground line 70. When the circuit is completed, magnet 34 is energized and exerts a magnetic attraction upon the magnetic member 20 thereby causing plate member 16 to slide horizontally toward portion 38 of magnet 34. This movement of plate member 16 moves the letters of the indicia 17 into alinement with the openings 24 in plate member 23.

As plate member 16 slides horizontally within housing 11, cam porti-oil 22 on the upper edge thereof cams the spring arm 43 and the movable contact 42 carried thereby upwardly. Movable contact 42 is moved into contact with stationary contact 41 thereby closing switch 4t) and completing the circuit to bulb 45 and the warning or reminder lights 54. Bulb 41 will illuminate the indicia 17 on plate memberV 16 which is then visible to the caller through the transparent member 15v and the openings 24 in plate member 23. Reminder lights 54 will serve to warn or remind the occupant lof the building, if he is engaged in other activities, that signalling device 10 has been actuated and that the caller is waiting at the entrance.

When the signalling device 1t) is desired to be deactuated, the occupant of the building actuates any one of the off switches 53 by pressing the corresponding push button 53a which completes the circuit to magnet 35 through power line 63, jump lines 74, 76, lines 75, 77 and ground line 70. Magnet 35 is then energized and exerts a magnetic attraction upon magnetic member 21 causing plate member 16 to move horizontally and thereby to move the indicia 17 carried thereby out of alinement with the openings 24 in plate member 23.

Cam portion 22 is moved out of contact with spring arm 43 and spring arm 43 moves movable contact 42 away from contact 41 opening switch 40. The circuit to bulb 45 and reminder lights 54 is thus broken and the same are de-energized.

It will therefore be apparent that a novel signalling device is provided which is compact, has a minimum of moving parts, is easily visible and readable and which may be actuated from a number of different locations within the building. Also, a novel signalling device is provided which has means for warning or reminding the occupant that the device has been actuated and that the caller is waiting.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.V

I claim:

l. A Vsignalling device for use at the entrance of a dwelling house or the like comprising a housing including a front wall at least ajportion of which is transparent, a

first plate member slidably mounted within said housing opposite said transparent portion so as to be visible therethrough and having indicia provided on the front face thereof and arranged thereon in a predetermined pattern, a pair of magnetic members mounted on opposite ends of said first plate member, a second plate member mounted within said housing in juxtaposed relation to said first plate member between saidiirst plate member and said.

front wall, said Vsecond plate member having openings formed therein in the same pattern as the pattern in which the indicia is arranged on said first plate member, magnetic means disposed within said housing adjacent the opposite ends of said first plate member and said magnetic members and selectively operable to attract said magnetic members for moving said first plate member between a first position wherein the indicia thereon is out of alinement with the openings in said second plate member and a second position wherein the indicia thereon is in alinement with and visible through the openings in the second plate member.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means comprises a pair of electromagnets mounted within said housing adjacent opposite ends of said first plate member :and having portions disposed in straddling relation to the pairof magnetic-members mounted on opposite ends of said first plate member.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 including first and second switches spaced from said housing and eachk electrically connected to one of said pair of electromagnets and operable to selectively energize the electromagnets to cause said first plate member to move between said first position and said second position.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 including means disposed adjacent said first and second switches and responsive to movement of said first plate member from said first to said second position for indicating that the signalling device has been actuated.

5. A signalling device for use at the entrance of a dwelling house or the like comprising a housing having a front wall at least a portion of which is transparent, a first plate member mounted within said housing opposite said transparent portion so as to be visible therethrough and having indicia comprising a plurality of letters arranged in a predetermined pattern on the front face of said first plate member and which combine to form a legend, a second plate member stationarily mounted in said housing between said first plate member and said front wall and having an opening therein for each of the letters of the indicia provided on said first plate member, said openings being arranged in said second plate member in the same pattern as the pattern in which the letters of the indicia are arranged on said first plate member, a pair of magnetic members mounted on opposite ends of said first plate member, a pair of electromagnets mounted within said housing and having portions thereofV extending in stradling relation to said magnetic members on said first plate member, said electromagnets being selectively actuatable to attract the corresponding magnetic i member for moving said first plate member between a first position wherein the letters of the indicia are out of alinement with the openings in said second plate member and aV second position wherein the letters are in alinement and Visible through the openings in said second plate member, a plurality of first switches disposed at spaced locations from said housing and from each other and electrically connected to one of said electromagnets in parallel relation to each other so that said one of said electromagnets may be actuated from any one of said plurality of first switches, a plurality of second switches disposed at the same locations as said first switches and electrically connected to the other of said electromagnets in parallel relation to each other so that said other of said electromagnet-s may be actuated from any one of said plurality of second switches, means mounted within said housing and responsive to movement of said first plate member to said second position for illuminating the interior of said housing, and means positioned at the same location as said first and second switches and responsive to movement of said first plate member to said second position for visually indicating that the signalling device has been actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,454 McCann et al Aug. l1, 1891 579,075 Owen et al Mar. 16, 1897 803,348 Lebeis Oct. 3l, 1905 922,849 4 Buckelew .QMay 25, 1909 1,320,807 Tanner v Nov. 4, 1919 1,364,170 Adams Ian, 4, 1921 

1. A SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR USE AT THE ENTRANCE OF A DWELLING HOUSE OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOUSING INCLUDING A FRONT WALL AT LEAST A PORTION OF WHICH IS TRANSPARENT, A FIRST PLATE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING OPPOSITE SAID TRANSPARENT PORTION SO AS TO BE VISIBLE THERETHROUGH AND HAVING INDICIA PROVIDED ON THE FRONT FACE THEREOF AND ARRANGED THEREON IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN, A PAIR OF MAGNETIC MEMBERS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER, A SECOND PLATE MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER AND SAID FRONT WALL, SAID SECOND PLATE MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN IN THE SAME PATTERN AS THE PATTERN IN WHICH THE INDICIA IS ARRANGED ON SAID FIRST PLATE MEMBER, MAGNETIC MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT THE OP- 